It was not until the early 1830s that the first settlements were established at Galveston. During the period of the Texas Republic, however, the city soon prospered into a major seaport, and became the base for the Navy of the Republic of Texas.

Most PureTexan.com Jewelry
is available online here or at Legend
Jewelers
San Angelo Texas

Puretexan.com
18 E. Concho Ave
San Angelo TX 76093
888.655.4367

The
Largest Known Lone Star Cut Blue Topaz

176.30 Carats
32.22 X 25.04mm

We were fortunate in that we had the opportunity to handle
and test what is believed to be the Largest Lone Star Cut Blue Topaz
known!

We were approached by an avid Mineral collector and true
to his roots Texan in search of the largest Lone Star Cut Blue Topaz,
we knew of a stone that was over 132 carats, huge by any stretch of the
imagination but this gentleman wanted to go one better.

After an extensive search, he happened across a large
piece of rough represented as topaz from Mason County. The rough was
purchased and expertly cut into the Official Lone Star Cut.

The intention was for this stone to be displayed at the
Museum of Natural History in Houston Texas for all the world to enjoy.
Before the Museum would be able to accept the stone as being the Largest
Lone Star Cut Blue Topaz from Texas, it was needed to be proven that
the stone have indisputable Texas origins.

That was easier said than done. The stone was examined
by the American Gem Trade Association and a report issued, unfortunately
the origin of material was inconclusive.

That is where Randy and Mark with PureTexan.com came
in. We accepted the task of trying to determine, with out a doubt, the
origins of the stone.

Luckily Mark was able to have the Professor George Shankle
of the Angelo State University in San Angelo Texas make use of the Lab
and its equipment. An extensive array of testing was done with X-ray
Flourescence and Infrared Spectroscopy comparing the large stone to known
Mason County and Brazilian material. We were hoping to isolate an element
or two that would be unique to the Mason County material thus proving
its origin through chemical analysis.

Unfortunately, there was no element traces seen in the
unknown material that was not found in both the Brazilian or the Mason
County Texas material.

While the origin is still undetermined, this is nonetheless
a fantastic stone and great tribute to the State of Texas.

(Click any Image for a larger view)

Shown
With A U.S. Kennedy Half Dollar

Weight: 176.30 Carats

Dimensions: 32.22 in Diameter X 25.04 Deep

Near Flawless

Special thanks to Phillip Mani for allowing us the
opportunity to view this incredible stone.